Nantes VS Rennes

Nantes will be desperate to halt a troubling run of form as they prepare to host Rennes at Stade de la Beaujoire this Sunday in Ligue 1. Their ongoing struggles have left them in a precarious position, second from the bottom in the league standings. Despite managing an encouraging 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain last weekend, it wasn’t enough to lift them out of the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Rennes approach this encounter in much higher spirits, coming off a dominant 5-0 thrashing of Saint-Etienne that propelled them into 12th place, providing a much-needed boost for their own inconsistent campaign.

For Nantes, the 2024-25 season has unfolded in a manner few would have anticipated, even under the management of Antoine Kombouaré, who returned to the club in March for a second stint. The team’s performance has been a far cry from satisfactory, with just two points collected in their last seven Ligue 1 matches. This dismal run extends their winless streak in domestic competition to 10 games, harkening back to their longest such drought from November 2020 to December 2021. That particular stretch, which spanned 16 matches, was one of the darkest periods in the club's recent history and eventually led to Kombouaré’s initial appointment as head coach.

Nantes supporters have found little reason to celebrate this season, particularly on home turf. Of their six Ligue 1 matches at Stade de la Beaujoire, they have emerged victorious in only one, contributing to a broader trend of poor home performances. In 2024, merely 19% of the points Nantes have managed to secure have come in their own stadium, a dismal statistic that ranks as the lowest in the French top flight. The inability to capitalize on home advantage has been a persistent issue for Les Canaris, compounding the challenges they face in their battle to avoid relegation.

Adding to their woes, Nantes have repeatedly squandered advantageous positions during matches this season. On five occasions in the current Ligue 1 campaign, they have either taken the lead or gained a second-half advantage, only to falter and drop valuable points. These lapses have cost the team a staggering 12 points, a figure that could have significantly altered their standing in the table. Despite these struggles, there remains a faint glimmer of hope. They are only two points away from Saint-Etienne, the team occupying the last guaranteed spot for top-flight safety next season. The point earned against PSG last weekend marked their first of the season from a losing position, a small but potentially meaningful step forward.

Historically, Nantes have struggled against Rennes in Ligue 1. They have lost their last four meetings with their Breton rivals, a streak they will be eager to break on Sunday. However, they can take some solace in the fact that they have never suffered five consecutive defeats to Rennes in this competition, a record they will hope to preserve in front of their home fans.

For Rennes, last weekend’s emphatic victory over Saint-Etienne brought a sense of relief after what had been a challenging November. That result ended a frustrating stretch during which the team endured three consecutive defeats without scoring a single goal. The win also marked a significant milestone for manager Jorge Sampaoli, who finally secured his first victory since taking charge of the club. This weekend presents an opportunity for Sampaoli to guide Rennes to consecutive Ligue 1 wins for the first time this season, a feat that would further stabilize their campaign.

Rennes’ away form, however, remains a significant concern. Despite their strong showing against Saint-Etienne, they have yet to win on the road in the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season. So far, Les Rouge et Noirs have managed just one point from their away fixtures, a disappointing return for a team with ambitions of climbing the table. A failure to secure all three points on Sunday would see Rennes equal their longest away winless streak in Ligue 1, a dubious record that stretches back to January-May 2019, when they endured an eight-match barren spell on the road.

The team’s struggles this season are reflected in their overall record, with just 14 points collected from 13 matches. This represents Rennes’ worst start to a Ligue 1 campaign in over two decades. Not since the 2002-03 season, when they had only nine points at this stage, have Rennes endured such a difficult opening to a league campaign. Their defensive frailties have been particularly glaring in away matches, where they have conceded 14 of their 19 goals in Ligue 1 this season. Compounding these issues is a lack of firepower in attack during road games, as they have failed to score in their last two away outings.

Sunday’s clash offers both teams a chance to rewrite the narrative of their respective seasons. For Nantes, it is an opportunity to end their torrid winless run, build on the resilience they showed against PSG, and give their fans something to cheer about at Stade de la Beaujoire. For Rennes, the match is a chance to secure a first away victory under Sampaoli and begin establishing the consistency they have sorely lacked this season. Both sides are acutely aware of the stakes, and the result could have significant implications for their campaigns moving forward.